Garry Spotowski Volunteer Award

Garry Spotowski was a beloved McCauley community member who passed away suddenly on August 6, 2017. He was a former editor of Boyle McCauley News and a long-time volunteer with the paper. Garry wrote articles and took photographs (often under the pen name “Arnold Waxwing”), and also delivered the paper as a block carrier. He was extremely passionate about the McCauley neighbourhood and was often seen at many events and meetings.

Following his passing, the staff and board of Boyle McCauley News created the annual “Garry Spotowski Volunteer Appreciation Award” to recognize and honour long-term volunteers who have made invaluable contributions to the paper and the community.

• 2023 Recipient

  

  John Gee is the 2023 recipient of the Garry Spotowski Volunteer Appreciation Award. John has been involved with Boyle McCauley News in a number of different roles since 1993. Her has been the paper's Treasurer twice and is still a block carrier. He is also a community volunteer with a number of organizations. To learn more about John and why he was chosen to receive the award, read the article that appears in our February-March 2024 edition.

• 2019 Recipient

  

  Congratulations to Gary Garrison, who received the 2019 Garry Spotowski Volunteer Appreciation Award on November 5, 2019. Gary is a long-term, dedicated volunteer who is retiring from the newspaper’s board after six years (five as Chair). He is also a contributor and block carrier. Gary is an accomplished author whose enthusiasm and experience is an inspiration to all of us.

• 2019 Gala Recipients

  

  Three outstanding volunteers were honoured at Boyle McCauley News’ 40th Anniversary Gala on March 9, 2019. They were joined by previous recipients, and presented their awards along with businesses who were honoured for advertising with the paper for the full 40 years.

  John Kolkman, a dedicated volunteer in the inner city for over 40 years, well known for his work with the Social Planning Council and within the walls of the Legislature.

  Larry Brockman, from our first issue 40 years ago, there is a photo of Larry as a member of the prototype for the Community League, his work with not-for-profit agencies has contributed to the well being of hundreds, if not thousands of people.

  Phil O’Hara, who has served numerous terms on the Board of Directors, including as President, and has been a carrier for the paper since moving to McCauley. He has also worked in the not-for-profit sector for much of his life.

• 2018 Recipient

  

  Bob McKeon was this year’s recipient of the Garry Spotowski Volunteer Appreciation Award, awarded on November 5.

  Bob is a familiar face to many as he has been involved in our communities for over 40 years. He is a community builder, a Professor Emeritus at St. Joseph’s College, and a community member who raised his children in a home across the street from McCauley School. Bob is a founder of Inn Roads Housing Co-operative and has been involved with Boyle McCauley News as a block carrier and contributor since the paper’s early days.

  The list of his volunteering accomplishments is very long. He has been involved with the Sacred Heart Parish and many of its initiatives, the Boyle McCauley Health Centre, the McCauley Community League, and it can be assumed he has done even more than HE can remember.

  Bob is one of the finest examples of the people who populate Boyle Street and McCauley. He is humble, kind, generous, and smart. We are all fortunate that the young McKeon family chose our community in which to raise their family.

  Thank you Bob. The impact of your life on others, too numerous to count, has been infinitely compassionate and positive.

• 2017 Recipients

  

  Kate Quinn and Rosalie Gelderman are beloved volunteers in the McCauley community. Both women have worked tirelessly over the past years (nearly 40!) to be positive forces and help improve living conditions for themselves and others. Kate and Rosalie have both been continuous volunteers for Boyle McCauley News and throughout the years have had numerous roles with the paper, including sitting on the board, putting the paper together, typesetting, proofreading, writing articles, and delivering the papers. Rosalie is also the paper’s bookkeeper.

  Both women have also dedicated years of service on the McCauley Community League Board, where they first met. Along with working to ensure the continuity of the newspaper for our neighbourhood, they also studied the issue of sex trade workers in McCauley and lobbied City Hall. Their work led to the development of the John School which taught “johns” that their exploitation of women was not a victimless crime, and the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, for which Kate continues to serve as Executive Director.